Justine DiRienzo

Justine Ann DiRienzo, a Fanwood resident for the last 53 years, passed away on June 25, 2025 at her home. She was 82 years old.
Born in South River to the late John and Pauline (Kruszewski) Nebus, she grew up in Sayreville and graduated from St. Mary's High School. Justine went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University in 1965 and her Master of Science in Nursing from Seton Hall University in 1980. While she worked as a staff nurse at hospitals and nursing homes, the majority of her career was spent in nursing education. She taught for two years as Muhlenberg Hospital School of Nursing and for 38 years at the Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing at Raritan Bay Medical Center (first in Perth Amboy, then in Old Bridge), where she served as an instructor, senior instructor, career ladder program coordinator, and program coordinator before retiring in 2006. In her final position as program coordinator, she helped coordinate the school's merger into Middlesex County College. She took great pride in the nurses she educated, and always said that she knew she and her family were receiving proper nursing care when she saw a Charles E. Gregory or a Villanova pin.
Justine was a member of the American Nurses Association, the National League for Nurses, the New Jersey League for Nurses, the New Jersey State Nurse's Association, and the Association of Diploma School Nurses. She was extensively involved in planning the New Jersey League for Nurses conventions, and she received awards from the NJLN for her service and her commitment to the profession.
She will be remembered for her quiet strength, her love of a good book, a good crossword puzzle, or a good jigsaw puzzle (which always occupied the dining table at her Seaside Park condominium), her love of and commitment to her family, and her love of the beach, where she vacationed with her family for over 40 years.
She was predeceased by her husband Joseph DiRienzo (2005) and by her daughter Lori Ann DiRienzo (2023). She is survived by her son, Joseph DiRienzo, his wife Dana, and her cherished grandson, Joey, as well as a niece, Aline McMahon.
Visitation will be at Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Ave., Fanwood on Tuesday, July 1st, from 4-7PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, 1571 Martine Ave., Scotch Plains on Wednesday, July 2nd at 10 AM. Entombment will follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Espiritus Nova, the Campaign for Villanova University.